The Property Council of Australia NT Division has today called on the Northern Territory Government to re-examine the NT Liquor Act.
Property Council of Australia’s Northern Territory Executive Director, Ruth Palmer said that at a time when we have tourism and workforce attraction measures in place, criminal activity, public intoxication and unacceptable behaviour are more prevalent than ever.
“At the moment, people do not feel safe, and we know that this is not an isolated nighttime issues. Unfortunately, this behaviour occurs at all hours and across the entire Territory.”
Currently, the Northern Territory Government is promoting a Global Workforce Attraction Campaign to entice skilled and semi-skilled workers to live and work in the NT.
“How can we promote the Territory’s livability when people are constantly confronted by this inappropriate behaviour?” Ms Palmer said.
The most recent NT Crime and Statistics Report revealed a 53.3% increase in commercial break-ins and a 14.1% increase in property damage since the 2021 reporting period.
“Furthermore, antisocial behaviour and public intoxication is increasingly visible to the public.
“We have previously requested that this information and statistics be published in public reports to increase transparency. With increased reporting and statistics, we can come up with more effective solutions.
“Today we have called on the Territory Government to immediately prioritise policies that reduce incidences of crime, public intoxication, and property desecration, including the issue of human waste.
“In addition, we believe that the government must re-examine 2019 policy changes made to the NT Liquor Act that previously addressed public intoxication.
“At the time of its removal from the NT Liquor Act in 2019, and as quoted to the NT News, it was removed because “a health response is the preferred response to alcohol issues rather than criminalisation.” (Spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Department, February 2020.)
“To drive this conversation, we need input from Traditional Owners, Elders, Land Councils, Indigenous Corporations, the Government, Stakeholders.
“By working together and having genuine grassroots conversations, we can come up with real solutions to deliver outcomes.
“Ultimately, the community and industry will fall behind the government’s policy, if it is achieving results.”
Media contact: Ruth Palmer | M 0450 428 314 | E [email protected]